James William Ward

September 23, 2011

James William Ward, 86, of Leflore died
Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, in Fort Smith,
Ark. Ward was born Jan. 3, 1925, in
Vantress to Hollie James William and Julia
Ann (French) Ward. He was a U.S. Army
veteran, serving in Third Battalion Co. K
115th Inf. Regiment, Fifth Army, 29th
Infantry Division. He was a WWII veteran
involved in the D-Day landings in Normandy. His military
honors include a Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation,
Combat Infantry Badge, Victory Ribbon, Good Conduct
Ribbon, Theater Ribbon and three Bronze Service Stars.
Ward was retired from the VA Hospital. He was a farmer
and loved to garden. He was preceded in death by his parents
and foster brother, Roy Walters.
Survivors include his wife, Juanita of the home; sons
and daughters-in-law, Ronnie and Karen Ward of Norman,
Mike and Patty Ward of Leflore; daughter and son-in-law,
Nita and Don Chitwood of Leflore; grandchildren, Julie
and Danny Atwell, Teri and Nick Starr, Dustin and Kasey
Ward, Lindsay and Jeremy Farris, Brad and Penny Neal,
Joanna Roberts, Jodi and Shawn Ward, Jami and Cody
Blaylock, Micha Chitwood, Ashley Chitwood, Daton and
April Chitwood; 19 great-grandchildren; sisters and brothers-
in-law, Barbara and Wayne Austin of Wilburton, Dora
and Bill Willard of Red Oak, Margaret Austin of Minco;
numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and loved
ones; many beloved friends.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at the
Leflore Baptist Church with the Revs. Jim Cook and Ron
Bess officiating. Burial will follow in Leflore Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Mike Deere, Dallas Ward, Larry Ryles,
Larry McAlester, Casey Warren, Darrell Epperly, Jimmy
Booth, James Cantwell. Honorary pallbearers will be Lee
Zuck, Harvey Walden, Bill Ward, Frank Carpenter, Harold
Mings, Kenny Monroe.
The family will visit with relatives and friends from 5-7
p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Online messages may be left at evansandmillerfuneralhomes.
com Arrangements are under the direction of Evans
and Miller Funeral Home, Poteau.